I know a lot of people who will not watch the movies because of the new characters, as well as the plot being entirely different.
My opinion on it is that there cant be a movie that has the game's plot. Just can't. Want to know why? Because there's no real plot. There's a general plot, yes, but it's not enough for a movie franchise. If the movies were like the games we'd be watching people run around doing puzzles and a new main character every movie. Even the viruses are different. The movies keep things linear, which works well. At least, for me it does. I like that it's different. It gives me something more out of Umbrella Corporation that they couldn't give in the games.
On that note, the movies probably should have ended after Apocalypse. Not saying I didn't like Afterlife or Retribution, I loved them, but it's dragging everything out now. But Milla Jovovich is in it, and that will always be satisfactory for me.
Evil is only a word. The reality is much worse
